Daughter Of Former U.S. Diplomat Convicted In Fatal Maryland Stabbing

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — The daughter of a former U.S. diplomat was convicted of second-degree murder Tuesday in the 2020 stabbing death of 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen.

Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said Sophia Negroponte, 29, of Washington, D.C. was found guilty following a nearly month-long trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court. She faces up to 40 years in prison.

Negroponte is the daughter of John Negroponte, who was appointed as the country's first director of national intelligence in 2005 by President George W. Bush. He also served as an ambassador to Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, Iraq and the United Nations, according to The Washington Post.

On Feb. 13, 2020, police were called to the 400 block of West Montgomery Avenue, where Negroponte was staying in a short-term rental located behind the property. According to McCarthy, Negroponte and Rasmussen, who had been friends since high school, were together at the rental and consuming "substantial amounts of alcohol."

McCarthy said Negroponte and Rasmussen fought on two separate occasions that night before Rasmussen decided to leave. Rasmussen returned to the house after forgetting his cell phone, which is when Negroponte stabbed him several times in the neck with a knife.

The jurors, who deliberated for about 16 hours, did not find Negroponte guilty of first-degree murder.

When convicting her on the charge of second-degree murder, jurors said Negroponte acted with a "depraved heart" when she wielded a knife near Rasmussen’s throat and "acted with extreme disregard of the life-endangering consequences," according to The Post.

Rasmussen's family released a statement following the announcement of the verdict.

"Yousuf was a kind and gentle soul, a loving person who brought our family and his many friends great joy in his 24 years of life. We will carry him with us forever," his family said.

Following the verdict, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Terrence McGann ordered Negroponte's bond revoked and she was taken into custody.

Negroponte's sentencing is scheduled for March 31.

John Negroponte, 83, said his family will discuss a possible appeal with their attorneys, according to The Associated Press.

"Neither the prosecutors nor perhaps the jury took into sufficient consideration the complexities and mitigating circumstances of the case — Sophia’s past trauma and other factors that led to a very troubled existence. She’s had severe alcohol use disorder," John Negroponte said.